Called and Caffeinated

"I’d encourage you to just enjoy messaging and talking to them and be grateful for every interaction- it’s good to be interacting with other brothers and sisters in Christ. And only good things will come from it if you approach it that way."

Watch on YouTube here! 

Are you considering online dating but are a bit weirded out by it? John and I were too, but we ended up finding each other through a dating site. We’re sharing our tips on how to get the most out of your online dating experience, stay mentally healthy, and ENJOY it! Then we're sharing our long-awaited story of what happened after Stacey's reality TV show "The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns" aired, and how we got engaged just 5 months after first meeting. We hope it'll alleviate stress and give clarity to our single friends. (p.s. we're not sponsored by any dating websites; this is just our honest testimony.)

Topics Discussed

• How to get the most out of online dating

You’re invited to the Called and Caffeinated Patreon Community! Access to Stacey’s Faith and Lifestyle Podcast Coffee Sips as well as monthly group video chats and other perks! Pledges start at just $5/month. Visit Patreon.com/CalledandCaffeinated to learn more.

SUBSCRIBE at staceysumereau.com

“You don’t have to ‘pray.’ Just sit and let Jesus love your heart.”

 WATCH SHOW ON YOUTUBE 

Apologies, tears, unfiltered opinions...all here. After all, we were on a reality show together....;)

It's the FIRST EVER cast reunion of "The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns!" Christie Porter (Young,) Claire Halbur, Eseni Ellington, Francesca DiPaola, and Stacey Sumereau (Jackson) have had a lot going on in the last five years. Collectively there have been 2 marriages and 4 babies, entering and leaving the convent, appearing on more reality shows, consecrated virginity, liquor sales, public speaking, mission work, and a job with one of the orders of Sisters from the show. 

Please join me in praying for Francesca's family: she lost her father to COVID-19 on Easter 2020 :(

Topics Discussed

• What Claire’s call to consecrated virginity looked like

Resources

• SALT Mission Program with the Carmelite Sisters

"What if fear is along for the ride, but doesn't get to sit in the driver's seat?" 

CALLED AND CAFFEINATED IS NOW ALSO ON YOUTUBE! WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/tyEc3PVnUoI

The coronavirus pandemic is hugely limiting our access to in-person events, but ministry is still happening. Today I'm having coffee with three other innovators who heard the Holy Spirit's call as the world seemed to fall apart in March, and responded with creativity. God works fast in hard times, and we're sharing what that call looked and felt like.

In April, Matt and Erin Ingold of Metanoia Catholic founded the Virtual Catholic Conference with 64,000 people tuning in. They organized the dozens of presenters in a matter of weeks. Joe Condit, president of the Catholic Speakers Bureau, (the largest Catholic Speakers organization in the world,) started the Inspire Word series that's connected people with their favorite speakers around the world. And my Be Not Afraid Conference came together in five days with 43 presenters and over 13,000 attendees.

Enjoy!

Topics Discussed

• What the call to something new felt like

Resources

• The Be Not Afraid Conference materials are still available for free here! Instant access to talks from amazing speakers like Jackie Francois, Fr. Rob Galea, Mary Lenaburg, Joe Melendrez, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, and so many more.

Nothing is normal, including this Spirit-led Conference I'm launching Friday 3.20.2020. BE NOT AFRAID is a wild idea Holy Spirit put in my head last Sunday (yes, that's 3 days ago,) to launch this Friday (yes that's FIVE DAYS to launch an entire conference!!!!) You can get all signed up here. 

Today is Wednesday, 3 days after I started reaching out to speakers and 2 days after marketing began.

3,102 people registered for the conference.

Over 30 speakers presenting.

WHAT IS HAPPENING Holy Spirit? I never, ever get to use the word "impossible" as long as I live! 

Here are the BE NOT AFRAID speakers/musicians so far:

Stacey Sumereau. Jackie Francois Angel. Bobby Angel. Mary Lenaburg. Leah Darrow. Fr. Rob Galea. Fr. Jared Cooke. Sr. Miriam James Heidland. Heather Khym. Michelle Benzinger. Liv Harrison. Ashley Dean. Sarah Swafford. Fr. Barry Braum. Ali Hoffman. Johnny Philp. Maria Abbe. Melissa Grace Tablada. Kathryn Whitaker. Nick Dela Torre. Alina Dela Torre. Katie Prejean McGrady. Mike Tenney. Lauren Montgomery. Allison Sullivan. Fr. Stephen Gadberry. Joshua Mazrin. Annie Deddens. Joe Melendrez. Melissa Davies. Stephen Davies. Lindsay Schlegel. Taylor Schroll. Kelsey Skoch. Emily Stimpson Chapman. Marie Miller. Meg Hunter-Kilmer. Hannah Schaefer.

​Guys, this is epic. PLEASE tell your friends and join me! Let's make the Holy Spirit's love contagious and his inspiration go viral!

“If he’s calling us to something, we don’t have to worry about what we lose in answering that call.” 

A working theory of mine about discernment is that it leads you to what you really want. Yup, you read that right. You get what YOU really want. I believe this because I believe that when God designed us, he planted desire for his plans deep in our hearts. Our deepest desire and his desire are the same thing. Discernment is the process of sorting through all the lesser, fluffy layers and discovering that core desire, kind of like a miner goes through layers before striking gold. 

Why am I introducing an episode about sex this way? Because discerning what we most deeply want for our relationships is the same thing as discovering God's plan for relationships. And that desire God has given us is chastity (no that's not synonymous with abstinence.) Chastity sounds boring, but it's incredibly life-giving. YES John and I as married people need to live out chastity...and I geek out a bit with our personal testimony of how that looks in married life. 

Arleen Spenceley has been on the front lines of explaining and defending chastity for years, from publishing articles in newspapers with her testimony of happy virginity to writing her book Chastity is for Lovers. Whether you're single, married, or religious, you'll learn something new and be equipped to live both counter-culturally and happily.

Topics Discussed

• How the martyrs had enough trust in God to die for him

Resources

• iMom.com: A wonderful resource for moms for which Arleen is an editor and Stacey is a contributor 

Enjoying Called and Caffeinated? Please consider supporting Stacey's ministry by joining the Called and Caffeinated Patreon community. Video chats with Stacey and fellow community members, exclusive access to Stacey's faith and lifestyle podcast Coffee Sips, and week-long self-paced spiritual challenges all included starting at just $5 per month! Click here to check it out and discern it :)

"The woman at the well and Jesus- what did they have in common? A love of cold water on a hot day. Our Lord, in his very tender willingness to come to our level, finds what we have in common and that’s the beginning of the conversation."

I have so many questions about being a Catholic in the USA today. What should guide our decision when choosing a movie? How do we evangelize and communicate effectively when our culture is losing the ability to dialogue? How do we lovingly challenge someone whose values differs from ours? How closely should we be following the Amazon synod and crisis in the Church? What should we do to maintain our Faith when disturbing news from the Vatican wrecks our peace?

When I first made my list of dream guests for this show in 2018, Patrick Coffin was on it. Dreams do come true! If you think I'm a good interviewer, it's because of Patrick. I binge-watched the Patrick Coffin show on YouTube. He was the host of Catholic Answers Live for over a decade and has interviewed almost literally EVERYBODY. I'm beyond thrilled to share this verbophile's take on discerning our Catholic response to popular culture. 

This interview is guaranteed to bump up your IQ at least a few points, or your money back ;)

Topics Discussed

• The interplay between my will and God’s will

Resources

• Cursillo movement

This episode is sponsored by the Beloved and Worthy Challenge, a 7-day scriputral retreat for claiming and living out of your true identity as a beloved child of God. Every purchase supports Stacey's ministry! Get yours here.

You can get the Beloved and Worthy Challenge FREE (as well as access to all future challenges) when you join Stacey's Patreon community. Membership starts at just $5/mo and includes exclusive access to Coffee Sips, Stacey's other podcast, and monthly video chats with Stacey. Discern joining here!

“God’s primary calls come to you through a combination of opportunity, interest, and talent.” 

Have you ever felt as though you're too young, too old, unqualified, overqualified, or in some other way inadequate? The devil LOVES to make us believe that we have to be something other than we are to successfully start tackling God's callings. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God uses every single part of our story for the glory of His Kingdom. Owning your story means accepting your individuality, rejecting comparison, allowing him to redeem your wounds, recognizing how God is working in the mess, and realizing that every moment is valuable...including the waiting for your vocation.

I first encountered Emily Stimpson Chapman on Instagram. Writing is Emily's gift and calling for processing her story and sharing beauty and truth with the world. There were multiple topics I knew she'd provide valuable insight on...so we're covering (almost) all of them!

Topics Discussed

• Seeing your own story in light of salvation history

Resources

• Emily’s website and NEW Cookbook to fund her next adoption

Today's episode is sponsored by the Cathoholics podcast. Find it here!

To buy curated high-quality gift boxes, visit Pillar and Pearl's website. Every purchase supports Emily as well as a community of Catholic artisans.

"Don't persevere in something that's wrong just for the sake of looking like you know where you're going."

What's the physical aspect of a Catholic marriage really like? What does that woman you want to ask out really want? Should you go on a date with that guy you only like as a friend? 

Paul J. Kim is one of the most sought-after speakers today and I had the privilege of sitting down with him to unpack all those things single people need to hear that few people will say. We also dove into Paul's vocation story which included many u-turns and what some would call "wasting time" as a monk for several years (hint: it wasn't.) Hilarious and relevant, I know you'll love hearing Paul's perspective as much as I did.

Topics Discussed

• Why you shouldn’t be afraid of “wasting time” by discerning religious life

Resources

• Paul's website

“We fear rejection, but living in the mediocrity of being used is painful in a different way because of its emptiness. The Lord wants to free us from that so we can live in authentic joy.”

Walking down a busy New York City street in a flowing blue and white habit and veil would force you to really think about your, your motivations, and what you stand for, eh? I got to sit down in person with Sr. Bethany Madonna for coffee at the National Catholic Youth Conferences where we were both blessed to be speakers. For those of us who aren't nuns, Sr. Bethany cuts to the heart of what's important and how to live an authentic life surrendered to God. Surrender has been the hardest, most necessary, and most freeing part of my spiritual growth and I'm THRILLED I get to share this conversation with you.

Topics Discussed

• Finding courage to speak up for what’s right

Resources

• Sisters of Life website

This episode is sponsored by the Serving the Aged Lovingly Today (SALT) Mission Program hosted by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. To learn more and apply for this FREE mission opportunity, visit www.carmelitesisters.com/SALT-program

This episode is also sponsored by Delphina Rose Art. Use code CALLED for 10% off your first order! https://delphinaroseart.com

“There is such a great joy of missing out. When we say no to something, we’re saying yes to something greater.”

Funny story: I recorded this episode two days before posting my foot-washing post that went viral (over 17.6 million Facebook views so far!) After recording this episode I took a project I wanted to do to prayer and discerned that I'm called to prioritize my marriage, first and foremost. And then 2 days later God used my surrender to reach incredible numbers of people!

She's young but wise- my guest today Melissa Grace Tablada juggles her calls of being an NFP instructor, marriage and family therapist, wife, and SoulCore fitness instructor. If you're constantly trying to find the balance between handling a busy life and feeling burned out and overcommitted, you'll love our timely conversation as we roll into the new year. If you're like me, turning down new projects is hard, but we also know that ONLY God can be productive 24/7. Enjoy!

Topics Discussed:

• Just busy or overcommited?

Resources

• New Website: melissagracetablada.com

This episode is sponsored by the Serving the Aged Lovingly Today (SALT) Mission Program hosted by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. To learn more and apply for this FREE mission opportunity, visit www.carmelitesisters.com/SALT-program

This episode is also sponsored by Delphina Rose Art. Use code CALLED for 10% off your first order! https://delphinaroseart.com